Ranking restaurants at Sandals Royal Bahamian all-inclusive resort

Gordon's on the Pier at Sandals Royal Bahamian

My husband and I stayed at the Sandals Royal Bahamian all-inclusive resort for our honeymoon, and during our stay, I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious the food was at each restaurant. I hadn't done much research about the restaurants before booking, but the mini food tour was an exciting part of our trip.

The resort has 10 restaurants and two food trucks, each with different vibes, cuisines, and dress codes. The best part: Since the resort is all-inclusive, everything is already included in your final bill, meaning you can basically eat as much as you want. But while each eatery had its own take on popular meals, they were not all created equal.

Here’s how I would rate the restaurants at the Sandals Royal Bahamian resort in Nassau, Bahamas:

1. La Plume takes the top spot for its delectable French cuisine and impeccable service. The restaurant sits almost in the center of the resort and has an elegant design with soft pastel furniture and gold trimmings. La Plume requires a reservation, and if you're lucky, you'll get a seat in a little nook near the window, which has prime people-watching views. We ate at La Plume on the second night of our stay. Our waitress was kind enough to recommend a wine and entrée pairing that blew me away. The French onion soup was savoury, rich, and cheesy. For my entrée, I got an expertly seasoned shrimp dish that featured mashed potatoes and vegetables. And for dessert, a delicately layered chocolate and cream cake. La Plume was also one of the restaurants that served breakfast. They serve an amazing lobster omelet that is to die for.

   
   

   

   La Plume at the Sandals Royal Bahamian

2. As a sushi-lover, putting Soy in the second spot is a little biased, but I can’t help myself. My husband and I visited the sushi spot twice during our stay. The restaurant's dress code is casual, and reservations are not required. Each time we visited, we had to wait about 20 minutes. The restaurant is pretty intimate in size, with a sushi counter and multiple large and small tables. Soy serves classics like edamame, vegetable spring rolls, and a list of signature and traditional sushi rolls like the spicy crispy shrimp roll with shrimp tempura, the salmon lover with crab and avocado, and the classic California roll.

   
   

3. Butch's Island Chop House is a perfect spot to get dressed up and celebrate a special occasion, or just enjoy a nice glass of wine and a fancy dinner. The restaurant has a simple but classy aesthetic. During our stay, we met a couple who urged us to try the surf and turf, which included a juicy filet mignon and a succulent lobster tail, so here I am, passing along this important message. The lobster tail was one of the best dishes we had during our stay. The lobster was deliciously seasoned and came with a garlic-herb butter sauce that elevated the dish. We were also advised to try the Willy Wonka Brulee, which pleasantly surprised us both. It was a unique take on a crème brulee that included a Bailey’s sauce and caramel corn topping. The restaurant was extremely busy on the night that we went, with several guests celebrating birthdays. The service was a bit slower than many of the other eateries at the resort, though our meal was certainly worth the wait.

   
   

   

   Butch's Island Chop House at the Sandals Royal Bahamian

4. Aralia House is a bit harder to get to since it’s located on Sandals Royal Bahamian’s private island, Barefoot Cay. It was another one of the restaurants that my husband and I visited twice. The food is worth the journey, and since it’s the only restaurant on the small island, it gets packed pretty quickly. If you’re planning to grab lunch at the offshore grill, make sure to take the boat to the island early in the afternoon, so you’re not rushing back for the final return boat around 4:45 p.m. Aralia House serves Caribbean seafood dishes along with some typical American options, too. During our first trip to Barefoot Cay, I ordered the baby back ribs, which was a perfect meal after a few drinks and hours on the beach. The second time, I tried the seafood risotto for a lighter lunch option. The flavorful shrimp, calamari, and white fish were doused with a light creamy white wine sauce. It was one of my favorite dishes.

   
   

5. Gordon’s on the Pier was one of the most popular restaurants at the resort, and I think part of that was the gorgeous panoramic view. As its name suggests, the restaurant was located at the end of the pier, overlooking the ocean. For the best views, I would suggest checking the sunset times in Nassau and reserving a dinner time based on that. If you like a quality steak, this is going to be your spot, though the menu is a bit limited. There are a few steak dishes on the menu, along with vegetarian and seafood options. I had the surf & turf, which was made to my liking. Besides the view, the highlight of our dinner was the mango chocolate mousse we ordered for dessert.

   
   

   

   Gordon's on the Pier at the Sandals Royal Bahamian

6. The Queen’s Pearl is a pub-themed restaurant that stays open for late-night eats. The bar serves British comfort foods like fish and chips and cottage pie. It's also a perfect spot for classic drunk foods like buffalo wings and mozzarella sticks. With playing cards and board games, the bar is a fun spot to hang out for a drink after dinner. The restaurant is located near one of the resort’s pools, and it gets pretty lively at night.

   
   

7. Calico Cafe is a poolside restaurant that serves lunch. It’s the perfect place to go if you want to grab a quick bite between swim sessions or between afternoon activities. The beach grill has a patio and is surrounded by open windows and doors. It provides great views of the beach and the action near the pool, so you won't miss a beat. Calico Cafe serves appetizing Caribbean fusion dishes, like a light jerk chicken Caesar salad or a grilled chicken sandwich with guava barbeque sauce.

   
   

8. Kanoo is a casual dining spot located in the center of the resort’s courtyard. It’s another one of the restaurants that serves breakfast each morning, so it gets a lot of traffic throughout the day. Kanoo serves Caribbean classics like Escovitched Grouper Fillet and fusion dishes like a conch Caesar salad. The beef teriyaki made for a great lunch on our first day. Kanoo became our favorite spot to get breakfast since it was the closest option to our room.

   
   

9. Sandals Royal Bahamian has two food trucks: Coco Queen, which serves light meals, and Sweets n Tings, which serves coffee and desserts. Both food trucks are located in a convenient spot near one of the pools and a nearby bar. They both stay open until 11 p.m., making them ideal for grabbing late-night snacks. Sweets n Tings opens at 6 a.m., if you're looking for an early morning coffee. Conch fans will enjoy Coco queen, as the menu features several snacks that include the staple mollusk, like the conch fritters or conch chowder. If you’re looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth, check Sweets n Tings for crepes, cookies or ice cream.

   
   

10. Tesoro was my least favorite restaurant at the resort. The Italian-themed eatery had an elegant aesthetic, but I was sadly disappointed by the food and the service. Tesoro uses a buffet to serve appetizers and sides, and the entrees are listed on their menu. After ordering our drinks and getting appetizers, we waited about 25 minutes before our meals arrived. I ordered spaghetti bolognese and was less than impressed with the lack of flavor. The drinks and the tiramisu ended up being the highlight of the dinner. Tesoro is also one of the restaurants that serve breakfast.

    
    

    

    Tesoro at Sandals Royal Bahamian

    
    
    
    

11. Kimonos was the only restaurant we were not able to get a reservation for, but I suspect if we had gone, it would have been at the top of my list. As a fan of Asian foods, the hibachi restaurant was one of the ones I was most excited for; apparently, many others were too. We asked about a reservation early on during our stay, but were told the restaurant was booked up for the days of our visit. On the second-to-last day of our trip concierge called to inform us that a spot had opened up, but because of our previously scheduled excursion, we were not able to take advantage. If you're planning a trip to Sandals, I recommend making a reservation for Kimonos as soon as possible. If you opt for a room with butler service included, you may have better luck than we did.

Which one of these Sandals Royal Bahamian would you try?